Sometimes managers really matter. France's behavior during this World Cup has been disgraceful. Apparently the Sports Minister changed their return flight arrangements from Airbus 380 first class to a chartered coach-class flight. They might want to change their return destination as well. I have no doubt that the players contributed to their fiasco of a World Cup but as manager it was Raymond Domenech's job to, well, manage the situation. Does anyone think that other teams don't have ego clashes? And just when I thought he could not go any lower, he actively refused to shake Carlos Alberto Parreira's hand. What possible reason could he have for making this his final gesture?
Carlos Alberto Parreira is one of those managers who is called upon to rescue teams. Parreira had managed Brazil previously to win the 1994 Cup but he had not never won a match with any other team. Until the match with France. It was never much of a hope for South Africa to advance into the knockout phase. But at least they played well, earned a victory and left the tournament with their heads held high. And Parreira deserves some of the credit.
Uruguay and Mexico needed only a draw for both teams to advance. Both Uruguay's manager Oscar Tabarez and Mexico's manager Javier Aguirre spoke of the importance of maintaining the integrity of the World Cup. And both teams responded to their call. The fact that there was a winner -- and for a brief time the fantastic, unrealistic prospect of a South African miracle -- is enough evidence that they did not conspire beforehand. Both teams played well, there were several scoring chances and soccer integrity won the day. In 1982, West Germany and Austria did conspire together for a 1-0 fixed match that resulted in Algeria being eliminated deliberately. This match was the genesis for the simultaneous final matches in the first round. The next time one of my soccer buddies tries to tell me how European soccer sets the standard, I'll remind them of the way both Tabarez and Aguirre approached the Uruguay v. Mexico match.
I never thought I would say it. Diego Maradona managed the Argentina v. Greece match very well. He played his B team but then again Argentina's B team is better than most country's A team. But he kept Messi in the lineup. He said the world deserved to see Messi. Sound silly? Maybe. But I enjoy every opportunity to see Messi. And while he didn't get his first goal, as usual, he caused havoc that helped his teammates find space, generate opportunities and score goals. Including Martin Palermo who became the oldest Argentine to score a World Cup (surpassing Maradona's record). Why would Maradona pick 5 world class strikers and then choose a 36 year old Palermo who hadn't played for Argentina in 10 years? I don't know. What I do know is that Palermo scored a critical goal for Argentina during the qualifiers and that he coolly put away the rebound from a Messi shot. And that his entire team seemed to surround him in a moment of euphoria. Maradona may not know much about tactics but he is definitely tapping into the passion and emotion of this team. When he channels it, great things happen for this team. Channeling his own emotions is another matter.
Group B started the final matches with Argentina in a very secure spot. The other three teams -- one from Europe, one from Africa, one from Asia -- all had a chance to make it through depending on the outcomes of the matches. South Korea and Nigeria played an entertaining match that had both teams feeling hope. Nigeria will undoubtedly feel disappointed and it's sad that neither South Africa or Nigeria made it through. But South Korea would have also felt disappointed and they deserve to advance.
The first matches in the first round are usually cautious, even tentative. The second matches feature some teams coming out of their shells trying to ensure their passage through to the second round. The final matches of the first round feature drama and nothing exemplifies this more than the US v. Slovenia match. The US was another inappropriately disallowed goal and 2 minutes away from heading home. Instead with one fantastic goalie distribution from Tim Howard, one incredible run from Landon Donovan and a goal that no one could disallow, the US won Group C. This US team never seems to quit. ESPN's commentators mentioned that the US team has scored 9 goals during qualifiers and the World Cup in the last 10 minutes of matches. Adidas has playing an ad focusing on the celebrated #10 jersey. In their first edition when they included Donovan I thought it was a stretch. Pele, Maradona, Matthäus, Zidane, Kaka, Messi...and Donovan? Well, maybe it's still a stretch but the newest version of the ad shows Donovan's goals from the World Cup. Definitely makes him seem much more worthy of the #10 jersey. While England must be relieved to just get through, they finished in second place and now will face Germany in the second round.
Ghana remains the sole African team within the tournament. Despite their loss to Germany, they secured passage once the Australians defeated the Serbians in their final match. I know Australia no longer plays in Oceania but it seems that both Australia and New Zealand have come a long way. One has to wonder if New Zealand will now dominate Oceania the way Australia had done prior to joining the Asian region. While South America, Concacaf and Asia celebrate tremendous success, Africa must regret the lack of representation in the second round. ESPN's South African commentator Shaun Bartlett was direct when he said lack of proper administration hampers African teams.
Everyone expected the Netherlands to cruise into the second round and they certainly did so. They are firing on all cylinders but they have yet to face stiff opposition. Nonetheless, 3 wins, 9 points, and a team seemingly in harmony. No one expected Japan to advance in this group but they did so with style and substance. If not for Wes Sneijder's swerving rocket shot, they might have drawn with the Netherlands. Japan dominated Denmark and Honda played exceptionally well. HIs move in the box for their third goal was world class and his pass to a teammate was unselfish. If he had taken the shot, he would almost certainly scored -- and tied for the lead in the race for the Golden Boot.
Wine and scotch generally get better with age. Soccer players might do so for a time, but their shelf life eventually expires. This seems to be the sad reality for the Italians. A team that won the World Cup in impressive fashion 4 years ago looked 4 years too old on this occasion. Injuries to Pirlo and Buffon undoubtedly hurt. Their backup goalie Marchetti must be getting a complex. Though I suspect Buffon might have gotten one of those shots, that would not have been enough for the Italians. Italy is notorious for starting slow and turning it on when they need it. Not this time. Wholesale changes are undoubtedly coming for the Azzuri as they prepare for European Cup qualifying. Paraguay has impressed during the first round but even they could not beat New Zealand which goes home without tasting defeat. What a tremendous accomplishment for a team ranked 78th according to FIFA.
Group G seemed to offer a tantalizing array of matchups yet Portugal managed to choke the life out of two of them. In their matches against Ivory Coast and Brazil, their defensive tactics disrupted both teams. They seemed to relish pounding a team with far less talent in North Korea yet seem unwilling to play openly against opponents with comparable if not better talent. I sincerely hope they don't continue to bore their opponents to death in the knockout phase. Brazil wins Group G and avoids a showdown with Spain in the second round.
Or should I say Spain managed to avoid the showdown with Brazil? Spain has yet to display its full brilliance. Torres in particular seems out of sync and unable to find his scoring touch. Spain left it to the last match to secure not only passage to the second round but first place in the group. Even a man down, Chile found a way to score and make things interesting -- until the last 15 minutes. Spain has yet to receive a single card making them clear front runners for the Fair Play award. They play fairly and elegantly but I am left to wonder if there's something more "systematic" going on in terms of their treatment!
16 teams left, 6 from Europe, 5 from South America, 2 from Concacaf, 2 from Asia and 1 from Africa. The first time all 5 South Americans move through, a new low number for Europe (which has never won the World Cup outside of Europe), surprisingly impressive performances from Concacaf and Asia and disappointment for Africa. No Italy, no France -- the first time neither finalist from the previous World Cup has advanced to the knockout phase. In order to advance, the US will have to knock out the new sentimental favorite of the home crowd. Three matchups feature European teams playing each other with Slovakia being the surprising team in the mix. Only one all South American encounter between Brazil and Chile. The two Asian teams play what are supposed to be the weaker South American teams, but it's possible that South America could advance 4 teams into the quarter finals.
It's time to get ready for extra time and penalty kicks.
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